Spot lamp for automobiles and the like



S. H. THOMSON AND R. H. HUMMERT SPOT LAMP FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE.

APPLSCATION FILED SEPT. 22, 192:.

r 1 43 196 Patented Dec. 12,1922.

IN V '4 TOR. 1 w

S. H. THOMSON AND R. H. HUMMERT. SPOT LAMP FOR AUTOMOBiLES AND THE LIKE.

APPLlCATlON FILED SEPT. 22, 1921- Patented Dem-12, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Dec. 12, 1922.

UNITED sTTEs 1,438,196 PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL H. THOMSON AND ROBERT H. HUMMERTyOFDAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGN ORS TO THE S. H. THOMSON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

SPOT LAMP FOR AUTOMOBILES AND THE LIKE.

Application filed September 22, 1921. Serial No. 502,451.

biles and the like, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to spot lamps for automobiles and the like, having particular reference to improvements in spot lamps of the type illustrated and described in United States Patent No. 1,388,220issued August 23, 1921. j

The main feature of advantage in spot lamps of this character consists in their wide range of adjustment,.--the lamps being adjustable in both horizontal and vertical planes of rotation, or in any two given planes of rotation at right angles Thus the range of light projection, by a combination of the double adjustment, is practically universal,that is I to say the lamps can be adjusted to project the light at an desired angle.

he improvements of the present invention consist in providing improved mounting brackets for the lamp fixture as a whole, the brackets being in two f0rms-for open and closed automobiles, respectively, and adapted in principle to standard automobiles of all makes; in single controlling means for adj sting the lamp in either p ane of its movement; in positive means for automatically securing the lamp in any adjusted position; in means to effect neater connections of the wiringof the lamp and to avoid short-circuiting of the connections; in improved means for adjusting the focus of the lamp; means for eliminating play, or lost motion in the mechanism; and, generally, in refinements and simplification of the lamp fixture as a whole to better adapt it for manufacturing, for more convenient mounting of the lamp on automobiles of different makes, and for ease of adjustment of the'1amp,-the improvements being illustrated in the accom panying drawings, described in detail in the specification, and defined in the appended claims.

Inthe drawings:

Fig. 1. illustrates the lamp fixture as mounted on a closed automobile;

State of have invented certain new and useful one to the other..

' Fig; 2 illustrates the lamp I fixture as mounted on an open automobile;

Fig. 3 1s a. view in longitudinal section of the lamp fixture removed from the mountin bracket;

ig. 4 is a detail view of the mounting bracket for open automobiles;

is a detail in two views of the mounting-bracket for closed automobiles;

'Fig. 6 is a detail view in cross section on the line 66 of Fig. 3; i

Fig. 7 is a detail view in cross section on the line 77 of'Fig. 3, and 1 Fig. 8 is a detail view in cross section of a portion of the mounti-ng bracket shown in Fig. 4. i

As here shown, the main features of the spot lamp fixture consist of the lamp -1 which may be of any suitable type,-the common commercial types of spot lamps being adaptable for use with the fixture; a lamp supporting base .-2; lamp adjusting head -3; lamp fixture extension -4; lamp adjusting handle -5; lamp fixture mounting bracket -(3, and lamp wiring -7.

The lamp base -2 is provided with an externally threaded stem 8 over which the internally threaded socket 9 of the lamp fits. The lamp bulb 10, as here shown, is provided with a hollow stem --'-11 which projects into the lamp base and is adapted to have longitudinal movement therein to adjust the focus of the light. To this end the stem --11 is provided with a rack T12 formed on the under sidethereof, and a piniOn gear -13 mounted in base -2 and having one of its ends exposed and screw. slot ted, as at 14, meshes with the rack and serves as a means for adjusting the focus of the lamp. A set serene-15 serves to lock pinion --13 and to hold the lamp bulb in adjusted position,-a pin or key -16 secured in stem -11 and cooperating with a key slot -17 formed internally in the upper wall of base -2, serves to prevent rotation of the bulb and thus to maintain normal relation between rack l2 and gear -13.

The lamp base -2 is cored out, as illustrated at 18, to provide ample clearance for the wiring T of the lamp, and is provided with a hollow stem 19 which forms the axis for horizontal adjustment of the lamp, the' stem extending through the adjusting head 3 and opening into space l8, thus the. wires, which are connected arranged telescopically over the -27 -,'-,-bushjings a, b, c, dbeing disposedto the lamp bulb in the usual manner by a bayonet lock connection -20, are conducted through stem -19 and thence to the source of electrical current for the lamp, as the battery of the automobile. The arrangement of the wiring, as here shown, elfects a neat connection to the'lamp and minimizes the possibilit of short-circuiting of the connections by the accumulation of moisture in the exposed lamp-base and lamp adjusting head, the construction being practically moisture-proof and also well adapted to exclude dust or grit from the internal parts of the mechanism.

' Stein -19 of the lamp base is mounted in a yoke bearing -21I which also serves to form three walls, of the adjusting head casing, the open "end an'dsides of the yoke being closed by a cover'ca-p -22 which fits in shallow ledges -23 formed in the inneredges ofthe yoke bearing arms -21,-thus the outer surface of cap .-22 will be flush with the outeredges of arms -21 to effect neat construction, the cover cap being securedto the yoke by. means of opposite screws -24. Adjacent its lower bearing, stem -19 has-a bevel gear -25 secured thereto which-meshes with a bevel gear -26 on the end of a shaft -27of the lamp fixture extension -4; A spring washer -28 is interposed between gear -25 and lower bearing -21, thus serving to compensate' for wear and to take up any lost motion of the parts of mechanism in the lamp adjusting head. p

The lamp fixture extension -4 consists of an outer tube -29 which is adapted to.be rigidly clamped in the lamp mounting bracket -6,-the tube projecting slightly at its outer end, as at -31, into' the hub of yoke -21,- theyoke being free to rotate about the endof the tube. .At'its inner end tube -29 has a ratchet gear -32 secured thereto for a purpose which will presentlybe described, T'u be -29 is-arranged telescopical lyv overa tube -30which in turn is shaft.

betweenshaft -27 and tube -30, andibetween: tube -30'.and tube -29, adjacent their ends to compensate for the differences in their respective diameters and to provide suitable bearing relations: therebetween.

Tube '-30 has1yoke--21 secured to its outerend andl a sl'eeve -33 secured to its inner end bya 'set'. screw34,'the end of the -sleevetoward-jtubes -29 and -30 being counter bor'edto receive gear--32 to form a neat enclosure therefor. vPivoted on top of sleeve--33 is va"-. la tch -35 provided with 'a fin'genpie'ce -36 and adapted to cooperate 7 with jgear i-32 to interlock tu-bes -29 and f'-30,j and release ,tube -30 from tube Y -29 to"permit :o f. free, movement thereof '65;

to -the adjustment that is desired masses to be made of the lamp. The opposite end of sleeve -33 is serrated, as at -37 to form a clutch or ratchet relation with a sleeve -38 upon which the lamp adjusting handle -39 is mou'nted,-the inner end of sleeve -38 being serrated, in like manner, as at -37, to form the clutch connection with sleeve -33. Sleeve -38 is splined on shaft -27 by means of a key -40, and is retained on the shaft by a stud cap screw -41,-the outer end of the sleeve being counter-bored to receive a compression spring -42 interposed between the head of screw -41 and the bottom of the counter-bore. Thus the vadjusting handle may be moved outwardly on shaft -27, from the position shown in Fig. 3, to disengage the handle from sleeve and to permit rotative movement of shaft -27, independently of tube -30, to adjust the lamp in its horizontal plane of movement,-adjustment of the lamp in a vertical plane being effected, upon releasing to provide brackets adapted for mounting the spot lights on open and closed automobiles of different makes. The. bracket illustrated in detail in Figs. 4 and 8, consists of opposite clamp jaw members 43 and -44,

joined one to the other by clamp bolts -45 which pass freely through apertures -46 in clamp member -44 and arethreaded into apertures -47 in member which is fur? 'ther provided with fulcrum stud-s -48 which? apt as a stop for the free end of Ll amp mem ber- .-44'as thebolts -45are drawn down; to fasten'the clamp on the windshield.frame -49. Clamp member -43 is further pro; vided with a threaded stein -50 whicl i' is'. adapted to fit the transverse aperture-of,

longitudinallyslotted sleeve -51-1showri in detail in Fig. 8-in which-the outer tube -29 of the lamp fixture extension is mounted,-the sleeve being firmly secured to tube -29 and to clamp member -43 by a. clamp nut -52 turned down on the end-of stem -50. By this arrangement both longitudinal and pi'votal adjustments can be made of the lamp fixture extension, as may be desired, to adapt the mounting to the particular automobile on which it is to be used.

The lamp bracketfor closed automobiles, illustrated in detail in Fig. 5, consists of a sleeve -53 which is adapted to receive tube -29 of the lamp fixture extension,-tl1e bracket having an arm -54 for fastening the bracket to the windshield casing, the sleeve and bracket being internally slotted and fitted with a clamp screw -55 cooperating with the slot to firmly secure tube -29 in the sleeve,

spot lamp will be readily understood. It,

will be seen that upon outward pressure being exerted on adjusting handle -39, to release the-handle from sleeve -33, shaft -27 will be free to be rotated in either direction,

upon turning of the handle, to adjust thelamp angularly in a horizontal plane, or in a plane parallel to the axis of the shaft, if the gear -32.

lamp fixture should be set at an angle on stem of the mounting bracket and, upon releasing of the handle, the lamp will be firmly held in any such position of adjustment by the serrations -37; and upon releasing of latch -35 with gear -32, the adjusting handle being then in engagement with sleeve -33, tube -30 and shaft -27 will be free to rotate in unison one with the other to effect adjustment of the lamp in a vertical plane, or in a plane at right angles to the axis of the tube and shaft, irrespective of the position of the lamp in its other plane of adjustment,-the lamp being held in any position of adjustment in the right angle plane by reengagement of latch -35 with Thus it will be seen that the range of angular adjustment of the lamp by a com bination of adjustments in the two planes is practically universal, and that the adjustments can be made quickly and easily by-the single controllinghandle.

Having described our invention, we claim: 1. In a spot lamp fixture,'the combination with a mounting bracket, .of a'tubular memj ber adjustably mounted in said bracket and having aperipheral locking memberfixed to f an end thereof, a rotatable tube in said mem- ;'alatch mounted in said sleeve and-adapted to effect locking engagement with said locking ber'having a sleeve securedto an end thereof,

v member'to'lnterlock the tubewith} said tul :|i1'-' ,la'r member, a. rotatableshaft insaid-tube and normally,ingyielding locking engage-. 1 ment with saidjsleeve, aspotllamp connected to said tube and shaft-fat;

" "thereof andaadapte'd' t in one z 'ilanef, b"

having an adjusting. handle secured thereto the opposite ends b adj iiste'd grotatably at on', of said. 'han dle .dji c from Sei 1 lock- .3, P upon d sengaglngsar ang member. andiin'anotherplanefoff rotation upon. disengaging tthe 'adjiu'sting handle-from saidsleeve,

i 2. In a spot lamp fixture,- the combmation As illustrated in broken. .detail in Fig. 1 of the drawings, tube -29 in said bracket and all of said members being normally interlocked one with another, means including a single operating handle to dlsengage one member from another, a

spot lamp connected tosaid extension and adapted toi be adjustedv in a plurality of planes to a plurality of predetermined positions, and means coacting with the operating handle to lock said lamp in any one of said positions.

3. In a spot lamp fixture, the combination with a mounting bracket, of a fixture extension adjustable rotatably and longitudinally in said bracket comprising three longitudinal. members arranged concentrically one with another, the outer of said members being normally fixed in said bracket and all of said members being normally interlocked one with another, a spot lamp mounted on one end of said extension and adapted for adjustment rotatably in a plurality of.-

planes, a sleeve having a serrated end mounted on the intermediate of said members at its opposite end and having a finger latch v for efiecting said interlocking relation with the outermember, an adjusting handle mounted yieldingly on the inner of said members adjacent said latch and having a serration adapted normally to coact with the serration of said sleeve to interlock the inner member with the intermediate member, whereby adjustments of said lamp can.

be effected in either of said planes.

4:. In a spot lamp fixture, the combination with a mounting bracket, of a tubular member normally fixed in said bracket and having secured to one end thereof a locking member provided with means for effecting locking engagements with coacting parts in a plurality of circumferentially arran ed positions, having a member adapted to coact with said locking member to effect said locking engagements thus to retain the rotatable tube in adjusted relation relative to said tubular member, a rotatable shaft in said tube, a spot lamp connected to said tube and shaft at one ofthe ends thereof, and an adjusting handle adapted to coact with said tube .andshaft at the opposite ends thereof to effect adjustment of the lamp to a plurality of positions in different planes.

' .5. In a spot lamp fixture, in combination with a fixture extension, of a mounting bracket comprising opposite clamp members for securing said bracket to a support, one 7 of said members having formed integrally therewith a threaded stem extending out- .wardly of said bracket, a split-sleeve adapted to be pivotally mounted on said stem and a rotatable tube in said mem er to support said fixture extension. and a clamp nut on said stem to secure said sleeve to said fixture extension and bracket.

(7 In a spot lamp fixture, in combination with a mounting bracket comprising opposite clamp members for securing the bracket to a Support. one of said members having formed integrally therewith a threaded stein extending outwardly of the bracket, and a split sleeri adapted to be pivotally mounted on said stem. of a tixturc extension mounted for longitudinal adjustment in said sleeve and a clamp nut on said stem to secure said sleeve to said fixture extension and bracket.

7. In a spot lamp fixture, the combination with a fixture extension, of a spot lamp mounted on an end thereofsaid mounting comprising a rotatable yoked bearing, a hollow stein constituting part of a lamp adjusting head operable in said hearing, a cover enclosing said bearing and stem, and the wiring for the lamp encased in the lamp head and said stem.

8. In a lamp mounting fixture, the combination with a lamp adjusting head comprising a yoke bearing, the arms and base of the yoke serving to form the Walls for the adjusting head closure on three sides thereof, of a ledge formed along the inner edges of said arms and base, and a cover cap secured in said ledge over the open end and sides of the yoke and flush with the outer surface thereof.

In testimony whereof, we afiix our signatures.

SAMUEL H. THOMSON. ROBERT H. HUMMERT. 

